Word
replenish
Phoneticsre·plen·ish, stress on the second syllable
US/ɹiˈpɫɛnɪʃ/
UK/ɹɪplˈɛnɪʃ/
Definitions
01to refill or restock
C1 · Advanced Formal
v. to fill something up again because it is empty or you have used most of it.
v. to refill or make something full again by adding a fresh supply. Transitive — requires a direct object.
“The waiter came over to replenish our water glasses during the meal.”
“The logistics team worked through the night to replenish the emergency medical supplies before the next wave of patients arrived.”
Usage
Often used with physical supplies like food, water, or stock, but also with abstract concepts like energy or funds.
02to fill completely
C2 · Proficiency Archaic · Literary
v. to fill a space or a place completely with people or things.
v. to fill up or occupy a space fully. This sense is largely restricted to historical or religious contexts.
“The ancient text told the people to go forth and replenish the earth.”
“In the old chronicles, the king sought to replenish his lands with settlers after the long years of famine.”
Usage
In modern English, this sense is almost exclusively found in the biblical phrase 'replenish the earth'.
Real-World Examples
“Farmers searched for new ways to replenish depleted fields as they struggled to feed rapidly growing populations.” “Assuming a five-year lifetime, putting the 1-million satellite constellation into orbit and then replenishing it over time would require thousands of launches per year.” “The UK's emergency stockpile of PPE, meant to last at least 15 weeks before being replenished, was running out by the end of March 2020 as demand from hospitals soared.” “Before addressing that question, however, they first needed to determine whether immune cells from the blood truly could replenish microglia in the brain.” Etymology
From Middle English replenisshen, borrowed from Old French repleniss-, stem of some of the conjugated forms of replenir, from re- + plenir, from plein, from Latin plenus.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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